VECO contractor inaugurates new linemen training facility

CEBU, Philippines -  To enhance the electrical professional training for linemen and mobilize the services of the electric utility to its customers, one of the contractors of the Visayan Electric Company (VECO) inaugurated its upgraded linemen training camp in Talamban, Cebu yesterday.

Two more facilities from its partner contractors are underway.

Top officials of VECO and its contractor, Cereli Electrical Services formally signed a memorandum of agreement towards the skills development of linemen along with the opening and blessing of the training facility located at H. Abellana Street in Barangay Talamban.

The renovation of the training facility started September last year and was finished two months after.

The camp features erected poles with scrap electrical materials such as primary line and secondary lines, transformer, line arresters and disconnected switch that will be used for the linemen basic training which includes pole installation, pole climbing, pole dressing, pole guying and line stringing.

The 600-square meter camp also houses a classroom that can accommodate 30 persons. The company poured an investment of P800,000 for the renovation of the entire facility.

VECO senior vice president and chief operating officer Sebastian Lacson acknowledged the innovative efforts spearheaded by the team of VECO vice president of engineering Val Saludes III to require their contractors to have their own linemen training camp since 2012.

"Our aim is to empower VECO contractors to train their own people. Without VECO intervention, they can accept trainees, whoever they want. However, they have to pass VECO's standards," Saludes said.

Currently, there are three training facilities for linemen that include the VECO Development Academy in Barangay Sirao in Cebu City. Another VECO-accredited contractor named Rosch also has its own training facility.

Lacson revealed that two more training facilities are being constructed within the franchise area and will be launched hopefully this year.

"VECO used to do the training before. What was once a zero training facility for the electrical profession shall now turn to five training camps very soon," Lacson said.

He described the establishment of training camps for linemen as a positive development for the country that could primarily benefit the customers of power utilities.

"Before, only electrical professionals are trained in VECO which had a less multiplying effect in the society. Now with more training facilities and more trainees, more individuals are prepared with the increased access to training and enhanced capacity to become professionals in this field," he stated.

Lacson added that it could also contribute to higher capacity of electric utilities and contractors to provide fast and professional services to the consumers, thus satisfying the needs of the latter.

He also expressed optimism to see more women practicing the same profession as men.

Cereli proprietor Celso Lavador echoed the same sentiments, saying that they envision to upgrade the basic training of linesmen to advanced professional education and encouraged more individuals particularly high school graduates to pursue such profession. 

He added that with the inauguration of the training camp, they expect heightened interest from the public to become professional linemen.

"This way, it could help those who cannot afford to go to college to undergo free training if employed by the company itself. We provide them employment opportunity within the country and even abroad," he said.

After passing the two-month training, the linemen will undergo evaluation in accordance to VECO standards by the electric utility trainers Edgar Bardilas and Gaudencio Roble to ensure that they are well-equipped with enough skills and safety measures in performing their job.

To date, Cereli has 100 linemen, 80 of which are fully-trained and certified linemen while 20 are still completing their training in the facility as of now.

Both parties clarified that Cereli could also train other entities may whether they are contractors of VECO or not.

Cereli has established partnership with VECO in live line works for 14 years. It also extends its services to some of the distribution utilities such as Mactan Enerzone, Balamban Enerzone and Subic Enerzone.

VECO is the second largest electric utility in the country, serving the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Talisay, Naga and the municipalities of San Fernando, Consolacion and Liloan.  (FREEMAN)